Non-returnable frame for stencil printing machine



1970 H. 1.. MILLER ETAL 3,492,943

NON-RETURNABLE FRAME FOR STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 1967Plb. 1- ,2 I4 42 ,4 /Q 6, 48

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INVEN TORS. HENRY L. MILLER and FRANK c. sTRurz MW Qiumuf A r IorneysUnited States Patent O M 3,492,943 NON-RETURNABLE FRAME FOR STENCILPRINTING MACHINE Henry L. Miller, Pittsburgh, and Frank C. Strutz, Mars,

Pa., assignors to Miller Screen and Design, Inc., Mars,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 690,323Int. Cl. B41f 15/34 U.S. Cl. 101-1271 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This patent discloses non-returnable frames for use instencil-screen printing machines that, in comparison with those hithertoknown, are substantially lighter in weight and considerably less costlyto manufacture. According to the invention, non-returnable frames aremade of sheetmetal stampings that are suitably ribbed to provideadequate strength and assembled by spot welding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to non-returnable frames for use with stencil-screen printingmachines.

Description of the prior art Prior to the instant invention, it has beencustomary to make screen frames for use in stencil-screen printingmachines by welding together, to form a frame three pieces of angle ironand a generally rectangular piece of steel strip, and then Welding tabmembers to the horizontal upper flanges of the angle pieces forming theends of the frame, with suitable openings being provided in the tabmembers and the flanges to which they are welded to permit securement'ofthe screen thereto and proper holding of the assembly comprising theframe and screen in the printing machine. Frames made in this mannerare, of course, relatively costly to produce and ship. In thecontainer-decorating industry, it has generally been the practice thatwhen the screen member associated with the frame becomes worn, theentire assembly is returned to the machinery manufacturer, who removesthe worn screen member and installs a replacement. To avoid machinedowntime, the user of the machinery keeps on hand a suitable number ofspare frame assemblies. Prior to the instant invention, those skilled inthe art have not perceived that the cost, not only of the manufacture ofthe frames but also of the handling and shipping frame assemblies backand forth between the manufacturer and the user, could be overcome bymaking a non-returnable frame as herein disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, we providenon-returnable frames made of stampings of sheet steel, suitably ribbedto provide adequate strength and assembled by spot welding. The newnon-returnable frames are of four-piece construction, rather than thesix-piece construction used in the prior art, and they may be assembledby using two welds, instead of six. They are sufficiently inexpensive,moreover, that they may be discarded when the screen member becomesworn, and this makes it possible to avoid the cost incident to handlingand shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A complete understanding of theinvention may be had from the foregoing and following descriptionthereof, together with the appended drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a piece of sheet metal, with the outer linesof the pieces to be cut therefrom in order to make a non-returnableframe in accordance with the invention being indicated;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame member of a non-returnable framein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first tab member of a non-returnableframe in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second tab member of a non-returnableframe in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a frame in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a non-returnable frame in accordance with thepresent invention, with the screen inserted therein, so that thenon-returnable frame assembly is ready to be inserted in astencil-screen printing machine and used;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a side of a non-returnableframe in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, there is shown apiece 2 of sheet metal, from which there may be cut blanks 4, 6, 8 an10.

Blank 4 is used in forming a first tab 36, having a shape as shown inFIG. 3. The blank 4 is generally rectangular and it has a pair ofopenings 12 and 14, for purposes to be hereinafter described.

The blank 6 is also generally rectangular and has an opening 16 and aslot 18, for purposes hereinafter described. The shape of the piece 42formed from the blank 6 is shown in FIG. 4.

The blanks 8 and 10 comprise simple elongated rectangles. These areshaped into the form shown in FIG. 2. As will appear from FIG. 2, ablank 8, 10 comprises an elongated portion 20 to serve as the side of anon-returnable frame, and a pair of end portions 22 and 24 at rightangles to the portion 20 and substantially shorter than it, to cooperatein forming the end portions of the nonreturnable frame.

As shown in FIG. 7, the elongated portion 20 of the non-returnable frameis provided with ribbing or corrugation, to afford suitable strength. Asthere shown, this may be done by having the upper portion of theelongated portion 20 flared outwardly, as at 26, and having the lowerportion of the elongated portion 20 flared generally outwardly as at 27and then inwardly rather sharply as at 28.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of the corners, where the elongatedportion 20 joins the end portions 22 and 24, a single rather deep inwardindentation 30 is provided.

It will 'be understood that the blanks 8 and 10 are formed into partsthat are mirror images of each other, rather than being identical. Thisholds true for the embodiment shown, but it is within the skill of theart to design identical stampings that may be assembled for the purposesof the invention.

It will further be understood that the details of the machinery andprocess for producing the parts described above are familiar to thoseskilled in the art, so that description thereof is deemed unnecessary.The parts are, of course, both stamped out and shaped in a singleoperation, with the use of a suitable press and suitable dies.

The exact dimensions of the blanks 4, 6, 8 and 10 will depend, ofcourse, upon the desired size of the non-returnable frame. The inventionwill find use in making non-returnable frames about 1 /2 to 6 incheswide and about 5 to 15 inches long.

' Having described above the individual parts, we shall now describe howthey are assembled to form a nonreturnable frame in accordance with theinvention, reference being had to FIG. 5. As there shown, a piece 31,made from the blank 8 and a piece 33, made from the blank 10, arebrought together at their ends to form the generally rectangular outlineof the non-returnable frame. To one end of the assembly there is joinedthe downwardly extending portion 34 of the first tab 36, which ispreferably located in such fashion that its horizontally extendingportion 38 which contains the openings 12, 14 is in alignment with thetops of the members 31, 33. The

which the non-returnable'frame is secured to the machine,

first tab is joined to the ends of the members 31, 33 by one or morespot welds 40. Similarly, the second tab means 42 is joined to the otherends of the members 31, 33, as by one or more spot welds 40. Again, itis desirable that the horizontally extending portion 46 of the secondtab means 'be in alignment with the tops of the members 31, 33.

As shown in FIG. 6, the non-returnable frame described above may befitted withv a screen to prepare it for insertion in a stencil-screenprinting machine. Around the bottom of the pieces 31, 33, there isplaced a rubber gasket 50, seen in FIG. 8, which is secured to thepieces 31, 33 by suitable means.

Strip-like members 58, 60 of plastic or the like have one edge crimpedinto clip members 62, 64 and an opposite edge cemented or otherwisesuitably joined to the sides of a screen 66. At the ends of the screen66, there are provided holders 68, 70, each having openings therein forpurposes hereinafter described. The clip members 62, 64 are slipped overthe tops of the members 31, 33. The ends of the screen are then securedto the first and second tab means, using the openings 12 and 16 andupwardly extending bolts 71, 73, cooperating with suitable washers 75and nuts 76. This yields an assembly prepared for shipment to the userof a stencil-screen printing machine, who will then insert anappropriate stencil and use the part in the manner well understood bythose skilled in the art. The opening 14 and the slot 18 provide forattachment of the part to a printing machine. The slot 18 may bereplaced with a simple round opening, but this is undesirable, as itdoes not provide for the use of the piece with printing machines havingtheir studs, by means of differently spaced.

The non-returnable frame of the present invention is made of steel sheetor strip about 0.0359 to 0.0598 inch thick. To be specific, hot-rolledsteel about 0.048 inch thick may be used.

We claim as our invention:

1. A non-returnable frame for use with a stencilscreen printing machine,said frame comprising first and second body members each formed of steelsheet about 0.0359 to 0.0598 inch thick and having an elongated centralportion adapted to serve as a side of a frame and end portionssubstantially at right angles thereto and each on the same side of saidelongated central .portion, said elongated central portion being ribbedto increase substantially its strength, a first tab member having agenerally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion integraltherewith, said generally vertical portion being joined to one of saidend portions of said body members and they to each other, and a secondtab member having a generally horizontal portion and a generallyvertical portion integral therewith, said generally vertical portionbeing joined to the other of said end portions of said body members andthey to each other.

2. A non-returnable frame assembly comprising, in combination, a frameas defined in claim 1, said first and second body members cooperating toform an opening, and a screen member coextensive with and covering saidopening and secured to said frame as defined in claim 1.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,218,451 10/ 1940 Heyne101--127.1 2,903,967 9/1959 Levin 101127.1 2,943,565 7/1960 Malek10l127.1 3,169,475 2/1965 Caouette 10l-127.1 3,167,004 1/1965 Miller etal 101127.l

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner EUGENE H. EICKHOLT, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

